Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: July 9, 2006
A REVIEW OF “A STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES
CONCERNING MARRIAGE & DIVORCE” (Part 4)
Ben Justice
As we bring this review to a close, we wish to consider several things that
Brother Haley said in his study concerning marriage and divorce.
Brother Haley stated, “Jesus did NOT forbid marriage after a divorce sanctioned
by the Law for either the man or the woman” (emphasis, his). This is a false
statement according to the plain language of Matt. 19:9. Jesus did in fact, by
implication, forbid marriage after a divorce. Jesus forbade a marriage after a
divorce if the exception of fornication was not present. In fact, there is no
authority to even obtain a divorce if fornication is not present. The only
authorized divorce is on the part of the innocent party when his/her spouse is
guilty of fornication.
Brother Haley stated, “Based upon Deuteronomy 24 it WAS permitted for the
woman to marry after being divorced even though she was guilty of fornication”
(emphasis, his). As was set forth in last week’s article, the “uncleanness”
(unseemly thing) of Deut. 24:1 is not “fornication” as Brother Haley espouses
over and over in his study. I wonder if Brother Haley believes the guilty party
has the right to remarry today? Apparently he does, based upon his statement
saying, “Jesus did not forbid marriage after a divorce . . . for either the man or
the woman.” If Jesus did not forbid marriage after a divorce for either the man or
the woman, then the logical conclusion is that not only the innocent party has
the right to marry again after a divorce, but also the guilty party. Again, this
contradicts the plain teachings of Matt. 19:9.
Brother Haley wrote, “Nowhere in the bible does God forbid anyone to marry — in
fact marriage is encouraged, and is honorable.” Even though Brother Haley has
read Matt. 19:9, he needs to go back and read it again, for Jesus does the very
thing that Brother Haley says the Bible doesn’t do. Notice the two statements
side by side:
BROTHER HALEY JESUS
“Nowhere in the bible “Whosoever shall
does God forbid put away his wife,
anyone to marry . . .” except it be for fornication, and
shall marry another committeth
adultery: and whoso marrieth
her which is put away doth commit adultery.”
Brother Haley does go on to say, “God does forbid certain marriages . . .
incestuous, pagan, etc.” This statement conflicts with his previous statement,
as set forth above. It is interesting how he says God forbids incestuous and
pagan marriages, but nowhere does he mention marriages that have dissolved for
reasons other than fornication (Matt. 19:9). Maybe the “etc.” covers it.
Brother Haley declared, “There is NO example in the bible of anyone being
instructed to divorce their spouse prior to being baptized.” This sounds exactly
like the false doctrine that says, “Baptism will sanctify an adulterous marriage.”
Brother Haley needs to go and restudy the scriptures, especially I Cor. 6:9-11,
wherein the inspired Apostle Paul wrote, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall
not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor adulterers,
nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (10) Nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, not extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11)
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Please notice
the phrase in v. 11 — “And such were some of you.” This is past tense, which
means that some of the Corinthians were practicing the sins enumerated in v. 9-
10, but were no longer. What happened? As Paul said, “but ye are washed, but
ye are sanctified, but ye are justified.” “Washed” is a clear allusion to their
baptism. In other words, when they obeyed the gospel, they ceased practicing
these sins. Please notice that “fornicators” and “adulterers” are specifically
listed.
Brother Haley said there is “no example.” The Corinthians’ are an example, are
they not? Besides, the Bible authorizes in other ways besides example. The
Bible also authorizes by direct statement and implication. In Acts 2:38, Peter
commanded the people to “repent and be baptized.” Repentance precedes
baptism. Repentance demands the cessation of sinful activity. If a couple is
living in adultery, then repentance demands that they severe the sinful
relationship. What if they say, “We will be baptized, but we will not dissolve our
marriage?” Of course, they will just be getting wet, for Bible baptism is
predicated upon repentance. I wonder if Brother Haley would apply his
statement to a married homosexual couple?
Brother Haley said, “Marriage after divorce is not forbidden in either the Old or
New Testament.” Again, this is a false teaching, according to the plain and clear
teaching of Matt. 19:9.
We hope and pray that Brother Haley will restudy his conclusions concerning
this serious topic of marriage and divorce. We ultimately hope and pray that he
will abandon his faulty conclusions and arrive at the truth. His soul is at stake
and so are those on whom he has influenced. I want to personally add that I
have absolutely no ill will against Brother Haley. I don’t even know him. But, I
do know what he has taught, and because he has taught damnable error, I have
the obligation before my God to expose it. Souls are at stake!
[NOTE: If anyone desires the original copy of Brother Haley’s study, please
see me and I will be glad to get you a copy for your files.]
QUOTES
“Some men fall for everything and stand for nothing.”
“When success turns a man’s head, it always leaves him looking
the wrong way.”
“Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you
have to leave them alone to do it.”
“Until you have better plans, don’t discourage the proposals of
others.”
“The best way to keep the face is to keep the lower end of it
closed.”